Call Waiting

“Good afternoon, you’ve reached the McDonough residence, Kaitlin speaking. How can I help you?”

“Good afternoon, you’ve - wait - Katie?”

“Anna, hang up the phone, please. I’ve got it. Who is it, please?”

“Jeez, Katie. Is that always how you answer the phone?”

“Every. Single. Time. It’s mortifying. My dad makes us do it. Anna, did you hang up? I can hear you breathing.”

click

“Be grateful you don’t have a twelve-year-old sister, Heather. Be grateful every day.”

“Ha, ha. So - did they call?”

“Not yet. I’ve been waiting all night.”

“I tried you a little while ago and I got a busy signal. Don’t you have call waiting? What was -”

“Ugh, I know. Stupid Anna. I’m telling you, little sisters -”

“What’d she do, leave the phone off the hook?”

“YES. So dumb. They could have tried then, and they wouldn’t have even gotten the answering machine.”

“You need to convince your folks to get you your own phone line, like me. It’s the nineties.”

“It’s so unfair that you have one. You don’t even have two sisters to share with!”

“You have to stop torturing yourself, Katie. They’ll call. You know you’ll get the scholarship.

“You don't know that, Heather. There's no way to know for sure. Every smart kid in our school applied for it, and that's just our school. And this means everything. Dad said there's no way he can pay for Northwestern unless I get a scholarship, and a big one like this.”

“Well, I know that you shouldn't be driving yourself crazy while you're waiting for this phone call. Wait – do you hear something?”

“Anna, for the love of - you need to get off the phone! I'm talking.”

“I know, I know, it's just –”

“Anna, listen to me. This is Heather.”

“What?”

“Whose call are you waiting for? I don’t have a little sister, but I know that sound I’m hearing in your voice. You’re waiting for a boy to call. Is there a boy, Anna?”

“No.”

“That was a big pause, and big pauses mean that I am right. Katie , did you know that your little sister is waiting for a call from a boy, and that's why she can't leave us alone?”

click

“Heather!”

“Well, I got her to hang up, didn't I? Do your parents know that their little angel has got a boyfriend?”

“Well, my mom would probably freak out. But Dad would be super sweet about it. He wouldn’t say anything to Anna or anything, and he’d just, like, keep an eye on it.”

“Yeah, I guess you're right. Your dad is kind of like Girl Dad Of The Year. Are they home? Your parents?”

“No, they went out to dinner. Dad was being annoying about it because of the snow. Is it snowing at your house?”

“Katie, I live six blocks away from you.”

“Okay, okay, of course. Dad picked Mom up from work for their anniversary dinner. Usually we go with them, but he didn’t want me or Elizabeth to drive in the snow. See? Sometimes he’s lame.”

“Hush, Katie, your dad’s my hero. Do you remember when he picked us up from that party and didn’t tell my mom? He’s cool. Now tell me the truth – do you want to hang up with me so that the line is totally clear for the scholarship people to get through?”

“No, no, the call waiting is fine, they'll beep in if they call. I'm not ridiculous, Heather. Just a little anxious.”

“I know, I know. Of course you are. I don't mean to be giving you a hard time Katie-Kate.”

beep

“Heather! Heather. Hang on. Can you stay on? That’s the call waiting.”

“Go!”

beep

“This is the McDonough residence, Kaitlin speaking. How may I help you?”

“Hello. May we speak with Ms. Elizabeth McDonough, please?”

“Er - may I take a message for her?”

“Is she not at home?”

“I’m sorry; she’s not available to take a call right now.”

“Okay. Okay. Can you take down a number for me, sweetheart?”

“Yes - it’s Kaitlin, please. Go ahead.”

“Of course, Kaitlin. Please have Elizabeth return my call at 917-555-6261.”

“And who may I say is leaving the message?”

“Of course - it’s Nicholas O’Neal from the Times.”

“Okay. Thank you so much, Mr. O’Neal, I’ll make sure she gets the message.”

“Have a good evening, Kaitlin.”

beep

“False alarm. The call was for my sister.”

“You didn’t let her take it?”

“Well, I couldn’t. I had you on the other line, and then the scholarship people wouldn’t be able to get through.”

“Oh, boy. That going to be okay?”

“Elizabeth is twenty-one years old, Heather. She’s an adult. She’s not going to fuss at me over a missed phone call.”

“Whatever, Katie, you know I don’t know about these things. I’m sibling-free over here. Now, here’s my other question - are you panicking about the snow? Like about the phone line going down?”

“Heather!”

“What?!”

“Well, I wasn’t. But I am now!”

“Oh, no! Crap. I didn’t meant to do that, seriously. Katie, you’ve got to chill. I can picture you right now. Do you have the phone cord twisted around your hand?”

“Yup.”

“Cutting off your circulation?”

“Yup.”

“I’m going to tell your parents to get you a cordless phone like mine, for safety reasons.”

click

“Katie?”

“Elizabeth?”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were on the phone. I’m in Dad’s office, waiting for a call.”

“You’re waiting for a call? Oh, say hi to Heather.”

“Heather! Hi.”

“Hi, Elizabeth.”

“Katie, I’m waiting to hear about a job offer; can you come get me if they call?”

“Oh - oh, no, Elizabeth, I’m -”

“What?”

“They maybe just called. Nicholas O’Neal from - somewhere, I wrote it down.”

“Katie! He was calling from the New York Times. Hang up with Heather, I need to call him back right now.”

“No, Elizabeth, no - I’m waiting for -”

beep

“That’s the call waiting - Elizabeth, Heather, hang on a second.”

“Katie, make it quick! I need to call him back.”

beep

“This is the McDonogh residence, Kaitlin speaking. How may -”

“Katie.”

“Mom? Where are you?”

“Katie, are your sisters at home?”

“Yeah, of course, Mom. Are you at dinner? Are you at the restaurant?”

“No, no - Katie, is Elizabeth in the room with you?”

“No, she’s in Dad’s office. Mom, is everything -”

“No, it’s not. It’s not okay, Katie, listen to me. I’m at the hospital.”

“What?”

“I’m here with your dad. Katie, there was an accident. It was black ice on the road, and a car on the other side of the street spun out of control and slammed into us.”

“Mom! Are you okay? Are you hurt? Hold on, Elizabeth is coming. Okay, Elizabeth’s right here next to me.”

“I’m okay, girls. But your dad is hurt. He’s with the doctors now. I need you to stay right by the phone so I can reach you if I need to. I called Aunt Lorraine and she’s already on her way over.”

“Mom, we don’t need -”

“Elizabeth, do as I say and keep the phone line clear.”

beep

“Heather?”

“I’ve been dying to know. Was it Anna’s boyfriend? Tell me his name, I need to tease her.”

“Heather - Elizabeth, where are you going? Oh - okay. Sorry. Heather?”

“Where’s she going?”

“We think - my aunt is at the front door. Heather.”

“Katie?”

“Heather.”

“Katie, what’s wrong?”

“Heather, that was my mom. My dad’s at the hospital.”

“Shit. Oh shit. Katie! Are you okay? Do you want me to come over?”

“No. No, I don’t think so. Mom told me to stay by the phone.”

beep

“Heather, that’s the call waiting.”

“Katie, hang up with me. Call me back later when everything gets less crazy.”

“No, Heather. Heather!”

“Yeah?”

“Can you just - can you stay on the line? Can you wait?”

“Yeah, yeah, of course, Katie. I’ll be here.”

beep

“Hello?”

“Hi - this is Matthew. Is Anna - is Anna at home?”

“Oh, crap - I thought you were my mother.”

“Excuse me?”

“Matthew, are you - you’re in Anna’s grade?”

“Yeah. I was just -”

“Matthew, she’ll have to call you back. I have to keep the phone line open.”

beep

“Heather?”

“Yeah, yeah. Was it your mom?”

“No, it was the boy, calling for Anna.”

click

“Who just picked up the phone? Anna? Elizabeth?”

“It’s me, Katie.”

“Whoever you are, that is not helpful. All three of you McDonogh sisters sound exactly alike.”

“It’s Anna, Heather. If you lived with her, you’d know.”

“Katie, did I get any calls?”

“Yeah, Anna - I’m so sorry, some kid Matthew called, but I had to tell him you’d call back.”

“Katie! Did you take a number?”

“No - no, Anna, I’m sorry, I forgot.”

“Katie! Dad always makes us take numbers. You always take messages. You just forgot this time because I’m your little sister and you don’t care.”

“Anna, please -”

“No! Don’t please Anna please me.”

“Anna, you can call him back.”

“I can’t if you didn’t get his number, Katie!”

“Oh, my gosh - Anna, I’m -”

click

“Crap.”

“Katie? Katie, why didn’t you tell her what’s going on?”

“She’s twelve years old, Heather. She doesn’t need to know what’s going on yet.”

“But now she’s pissed at you.”

“I’d rather her be pissed at me than -”

beep

“Hold on, Heather.”

“You still want me to stay on?”

“Yeah. Can you?”

“Yeah.”

beep

“Hello?”

“Katie?”

“Mom. Mom. Are you -”

“Katie, is Elizabeth with you? Is Aunt Lorraine there?”

“No, they’re - hold on - Liz! Come down here. Okay, Mom, they’re both here.”

“Girls - I’m so sorry.”

“Aunt Lorraine, stop squeezing my hand - Mom, what -”

“I’m so sorry, girls. Your dad is gone.”

“Mom.”

“Katie, are they both still there? You’re not by yourself?”

“Mom, I’m here, it’s Elizabeth. Mom?”

“Girls, the doctors did everything they could. It happened so fast. They - they did everything they could. Girls, I have to - I have to do a few things - Lorraine, can you stay with them?”

“Yes, yes, of course.”

“Mom?”

“Katie, I’m so sorry. And I’m sorry to have to tell you this way. I’ll be home as soon as I can. Girls?”

“Yeah, Mom?”

“I love you.”

“We - w-we love you, too, Mom. Elizabeth’s crying but Aunt Lorraine’s got her.”

“Are you okay, Katie? I’ll be home soon.”

“Yeah - yeah. Mom, don’t drive yet. Wait until it’s not -”

“I know. I know, honey. I’ll be there as soon as I can. Love you.”

“Love you, Mom.”

beep

“Heather?”

“Katie?”

“Heather, I -”

“Katie? What happened? Was it your mom?”

“Heather, it was my mom, and -”

click

“Anna? Is that you?”

“Katie, get off the phone!”

“Anna, I’ll be off in two minutes. I’m sorry about before. Can you come downstairs? Or, no, stay up there, I’ll be right up. I’ll help you track down Matthew’s number.”

“Why are you being nice?”

“I’m always nice.”

“No, you’re -”

“Anna, just give me two minutes, okay? Hang up and I’ll come help you.”

click

“Heather? Heather, my dad died.”

“What?!”

“My mom just -”

“Katie! Katie. Katie, I’m so sorry. Katie, I’m - I don’t even know what to - do you want me to come over?”

“Yeah. Yeah, I do. But - I don’t know if I can - do I have to tell Anna? I can’t tell Anna.”

“Don’t tell her yet. I’ll get the car now.”

“Heather!”

“Yeah, Katie?”

“Be careful. Don’t drive if it’s snowing.”

“I won’t.”

beep

“It’s the call waiting again. Can you - can you wait one more time, Heather?”

“Are you sure? Why do you want me to wait, Katie? I can be there in ten minutes if I get the keys now.”

“I just - don’t leave me. I can’t - I don’t know if it’s my mom, and I can’t -”

“I’ll wait, Katie. I’ll wait. Go get the call.”

beep

“Hello, McDonogh residence, Kaitlin speaking.”

“Is this Ms. Kaitlin McDonogh?”

“It is.”

“Ms. McDonogh, I’m pleased to be calling you to notify you that you’ve won the Andrews Scholarship, valued at over $100,000 toward your college education. Congratulations. Ms. McDonogh? Are you there?”

“I’m - I’m here.”

“Congratulations, Ms. McDonogh. We’ll be in touch with you about the details for accepting the award.”

“Th - thank you so much. I’m sorry, I’m -”

“Ms. McDonogh, are you all right?”

“Yes - yes, I am. Thank you so much. Have a good evening.”

“Have a wonderful evening, Ms. McDonogh.”

beep

“Heather?”

“Katie? Everything okay? I’m going to head over now.”

“Okay. See you in a few minutes.”

“Wait, Katie - who was it? Who was on the other line?”

“It was - it was nobody. It was nothing important.”